Apparatus for forming sleeves and associating them with articles



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' 1.629170 May .17 1927' G. L. MATTHIAS ET AL APPARATUS FOR FORMING SLEEVES AND ASSOGIATING THEM WITH ARTICLES Filed Feb. le. 1924 z sheets-sheet 1 @n MMM g4 il May 17 1927.

G. L. MATTHIAS ET AL APPARATUS FOR FORMING SLEEVES AND ASSOCIATING THEM WITH ARTICLES Filed Feb. 16. '1924 l El l l i @ma *li lili :rmi g- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, l927.`

G. L. MATTHIAS ET AL v APPARATUS F'OR FORMING SLEEVES AND ASSOCIATING THEM WITH ARTICLES Filed Feb. l5. 1924 5 Sheets-51196133 Patented May 17, 1927.

UITED STATES PTENT GFlTlE.

GILBERT L. MATTHIAS AND VJALDEIVIAR D. KMENTT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE B. F. GOOIDRICI-I COMPANY, OF NE'W YORK,

YORK.

N'. Y., A CORPORATIQN 0F NEW APPARATUS FOR FORI'EING SLEEVES AND LSSOCITING- THEM WITH ARTICLES.

Application filed February 16, i924.

asseu'iblies per minute.

The chiot objects ot this invention are to provide in'iproved tune-saving and laborsavingl procedure and apparatus for work of this character. A more speciiic object is the provision ot' a largely automatic machine for as'sei'iibling rubbeil sleeves with valve-caps. A 'further object is to provide an apparatus whereby a length of rubber tubing' may be severed into short lengths to torni the .sleeves and the latter rapidly assembled with the valvelaps as they are thus formed.

Ot. thc accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, oi a i'iiachine embodying` and adapted to carry out my invention in its preferred form. i

Fin'. 2 is an elevation, partly broken aw y and in section ot the .machine as viewed from the lett of Fig'. l.

Fien 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fie'. l

Fig. et is a` section on liiic l l oit Fig. l.

liig. 5 is a section ou liiie 5--5 of Fig. l.

Figi'. (i is a section on line (5 6 ot Fig.` Figi'. 'i' is a section on line 7 7 oil Fig. Fiex is a section on line 8 8 ot' Fig. l. Fig'. t) is an elevation, partly broken away.

oil a cap-'tending hopper,

liigf. lo is a detailed,elevation of iiiechanisi'ii for electing the finished work.

Fig. ll is aii elevation of a valve-cap andy a sleeve thereon constituting the finished work. f

ln general, the machine in the pret-erred loi-iii here shown, comprises a l'ecd hopper arranged to deliver caps to a guideway leadinp; therejron'i to an assembling position; mechanism adapted to advance the caps in succession. at the assembling position, to torce their respective stems into an end of a longv lengtl'i of tubing supported in receiv- Serial N o. 693,280.

ing,` position; means for severing the tubing as each cap is thus advanced, the severed length oit the tubing` constituting' a sleeve on the stein ot' the valve-cap, tube-claniping` iiieinbers adapted to retain the end ot the tubing in proper position during;` the assembling` operation and to release the tubing after each. such operation; means including al pair oi feed rolls for advancing` the long length ot tubing` to its receiving position between the advancing` of successive caps, while the tube-claiiiping members are released; and means comprising a reciprocating slide adapted to engage the linishedvvork to eject it from the machine.

Heini-ring to the drawing, l designates generally a trame casting` formed near its base with openings ll and i2 therein (Fig. l) to receive various work-co'ntrollinp)l instrunientalities, and said traine l() is formed above with an upstandinp; bracket portion l tcrmii'iating in an inclined portion le, as liest shown in Fig. l. Said inclined portion and a bracket 15, secured to the opposite side of the trame l0, support the feed hopper structure in an inclined position, preferably aboutv o from the horizontal.

Said feed hopper structure coiniirisis a lower, stationary, generally cylindrical meinlier 'lo formed with a central bea-ring 1'? in which ouriialod a shaftlS, upon the upper end o'i 'which is mounted a rotary hopper unit comprising a hopper-bottom ii'ieinbei," 19 secured to the shaft and formed with an upper surface 2O sloping outwardly from its center to its periphery, the periphery thereoi lying' in. the same plane with the upper annular surface 2l of the stationary meinb-cr lo. The surface 2l closely encircles and in etlect constitutes a continuation of the sloping surface 2O of the rotary hopperbottom member. Wear washers 22 are prei"- erably interposed between the members 19 and 16 for inaintainingthe periphery oit Ahe surface 2O and the surface 2l flush' with each other. f

The rotary hopper unit includes also capag'it'ating and cap-guiding, radial, up ing, circuinterentially spaced webs 2o, 23

I i 7 termed on the periphery ot the hopper-bottoin member 19, the inner edges of the Webs 23, at the base of the latter, curving toward the center ol the member 19 to provide,'as clearly shown in Fig. 1, a bowlshaped cap-receiving space 25, from which, as more clearly shown in Fig. it, there radiate-s a series ot cap-guiding passages 25, 25, provided by the spacing of the webs 23. The webs 23 areso tapered toward the axis of the hopper, als shown, that the passages 25a are substantially of a uni'torni width ust sutlicicnt to permit the passage of the caps, designated 26, 26, when the latter are disposed radially oit the hopper. The webs 23 may be notched on their side faces adjacent their inner edges 24, as shown at 2T, 27, Fig. 4, to facilitate the guiding into the passages 5*? otcaps obliquely disposed with relation to the passages. The webs extend radially outward past the stationary, annular' surface. 21, and portions 28, 28, thereof extend downward in telescoping relation to a reduced upper portion 29 ot the lower, stationary member 16 of the hopper structure, the extensions 28 being termed with ribs 30, 30, on the opposite sides thereof and adjacent their inner edges, the extensions 28, including theribs 30, defining passages 31, 31, leading downwardly from the passages 25 and adapted, as best shown in Figures 3 and 1,to permit the passage ot caps downward about'the reduced portion 29 ot the statiorn ary member 16, but only suoli. caps as are disposed radially of the hopper, as is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4c.

Secured to the outerl edges of the webs 23 and web-extensions 28 is a hollow, cylindrieal casting 32, the lower portion of which extends below the extensions 28 and telescopes upon the' lower portion of the stationary, cylindrical member 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical member 5L is formed with eirciiuni'ierentially spaced, parallel, longitudinal channels which have the torni ot grooves 33, 33, 34T, 34, on the inner face ot the member in its upper portion and in its lower nia-rginal portion respectii'ely, where its wall is relatively thick, and constitutes slots 35, 35, throughout its intermediate portion, where its wall is thin, said channels being adapted to permit; the passage of the narrow stems ot the `valvecaps and their slot portions, being open to the Aexterior of the structure, are adapted to permit the loosening ot a cap by hand in case it becomes jammed, and to permit a View ot the stacks of caos in said channels.

The reduced portion 29 of the member 16 .is defined at its lower end by a circunrterentialV shoulder or ledge 36 forn'ied on the member 16 and constituting a lower endclosure or floor 'for the passages 31, except in a small are at an intermediate part oic its length, (see Fig. 9) where, as shown at 37, it slopes downwardly, receding from the ends of the passages 31, to a lower, straight portion 38 spaced just tai,v enough ,below the ends ol" the extensions 28 to permit the passage of the caps as the latter slide along upon the ledge. The lower straight portion 3S ot the shoulder or ledge 36 extends to the entrance 39 ot, and continues as the 'floor ol', a cap-guiding groove 110 formed in the outer tace otithe member 1G, said groove 10 and the ledge 36 del'ining a pick-ott point or projection 40 (Fig. 9) adapted to separate the lower-most cap t'rom each ot stacks ot caps in the passages 31, said lowerinost cap proceeding in the groove t0 while the rest ot the stack passes onto the more elevated portion of the ledge 36. The groove ll1() constitutes a hopper-outlet channel terminating at 11, at the high side ot' the lower end margin ot the inclinedstationary member 16, where it communicates with the entrance l2 of a cap-'feeding guideway or groove e3 termed in the bracket portion 13 ot the trame and extending obliquely and then Vertically downward to the opening 11 in the 'trame 10, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A branch groove its, (Fig. 2) formed in the bracket member 13, leads downwardly from the upper, oblique portion of the groove 4:3, and is adapted to direct excess caps from the guideway groove 43 when the latter have filled to the entrance ot said branch groove, `the sloped upper portion et the groove (see Fig. 2) being adapted to cause the valve caps to pass over said entrance, by momentum, except when the groove 43 is so lilled. Metallic strips 45, 15, are secured to the *frame 10 on the respective sides of the grooves 13 and 4K1, extending partially over `the latter to retain the caps therein by engagement with the tops ot the body portions ot the caps, the stems oli the caps projecting through the space between the strips. `As shown in Figs. S and 10, said strips at their lower ends are cut away at 4th, 115m, so that a cap may be advanced horizontally from the lower end ot the guideway 113. ilelow the outlet 116 from the exccss-cap-renoring guideway a chute 41:7' is supported on the frame 10 to conduct excess caps trom the machine. l

For supporting a column of caps in the guide ay 4:3 so that the lowermostlcap is in position -tor e'ti'ecting an assembly, a capsupporting projection 41S is tor``A d on the traine 10 at the lower end ot' said guirleway. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8. a vertically oscillating member 419. is pi-.f'otcd on the 'frame 10 at 19a (Fig. 8), tor operation in the opeuing 11 ot the trame 10, and .aid member is formed with a grooved supporting` tace (Fig. 8) for engaging the outer end portion only7 of the stem oinv the lowermostcap as the latter rests upon the support 18, so that the longitudinal axis of the cap will be substantially horizontal, the member 4t-9 being adapted to be periodically withdrawn from such engagement by swinging downwardly loo (Ell

when ythe caps in succession are horizontally advanced, but only after the stem ot the cap hns started into the end ot' the tubing.

For feeding; the tubing, designated 51, to the assemblingV position, a pair et 'it-eed rolls 52 and are supported on the 10, as clearly shown in Fin'. 1, at the other side olf the opening 11 :trom the tern'iinus ot the cap-feeding guideway 43. r1`he upper roll 52, being an idler roll, is journeled on a stud 5-1 seci'lred in the 'trame 10 as bef-:t shown lin Fin'. 2, and the lower roll 5S, is secured to a shalt 55 jourualed in bearings 5G, 55 'toi-ined in the :traine 10. rl`he rollsI :1nd 53, are 'torined with mating' circuniilerential grooves 57 and 58 'for receiving the tubing 51, the groove 58 ot the roll preterably beine; roughened to prevent slippage oit the tubing.

Extending; downwardly from the 'trame 1() into the opening- 11 is a projection 59 'formed with a tube-guiding aperture (5U, shown in Fig. 1, said aperture leading troni adjacent; the n'ratingi` rolls 52 and4 5? hori-4 zontally toward and to a position adjecent the bottom of the o'uideway 43. Between the ln'ojection 59 and the guideway L13 a tube-clamping` projection 61 is formed on the frame 10, (intendingf into the opening` 11, said projection 61 having a lower `oblique 'tace G2, as shown in Fig, 7, the tace G2 haring; a `groove G3 therein forming' in eiicct a continuation o'l' a portion of the ripper surface olf the aperture 60. A lower, vcrtically oscillating1 tube-supporting men'iber 6d, referring' tollin' 1 and 7, is pivoted on the 'traine 1() zit-5l, its tace lend extending; into `the opening` 11, and said member l'/l is ilormed with an oblique lince provided with a ;roove 65 adapted so to mate with the 1ejri'imfc G3 in the inei'iiber G1 es to clamp the end ot the tubing 5l, as clearly illustra ted in Fig. 1, in alin'nnient with the lower- `moet cap in the ,gruideway 41:3, the ol'ilique 'lzu'es ot the mei'nbers 61 and lil-1 being such as to pei-init the ejection of en assembly vtorwai'dly and downwardly 'trom lletween said members when the latter are separated.

l notch (S6 'is 'lorined in the lower iace olf the in'ojection 59, said notch entendiiur into the aperture (nl, the vlinee (S7 delinincY its upper end as shown in Figure 5. Arranged 'for cooperation with the notch 66 is a` vertically oscilla-ding' tube-clan'ii'iing member GS pivoted at G8 on the trarne 10, tor operation in the opening' 11 oit the latter. the upper clamping' surface ot' the ineniber (S8 contorniinn' with the 'tace 67,-but being,A ungrrooVed, so that in clamping the tubing 51 against the upper surface ot the aperture` GO it is adapted to indent the tubing, as shown crearly in lli 5, the more firmly to hold the tubagainst longitudinal movement.

lrinism is provided for advancing' the successive caps so that the stein of the cap enters the end of the tubing,` while the .latter is held by the vclampingmeans above described. Said mechanism, referring especially te 1, comprises a cap-advancing plunger ('59 mounted in e bore 7() formed in iframe 1 :immediately above the capsupporting projection 118, the plunger 69 ravir@` a reduced end l1 adapted to enter the body por-tion of the lowermost cep in 'he guideway rEhe rear end portion et 'he plunger is threaded, as shown at 72, a hreaded bushing 73 being' screwed thereon ind slidably mounted in a bearing,Y 74 termed n the Ytraine 10 at the rear side et the yopen- Vuci 12. For actuating the plunger a sleeve l5 'Formed with ay stud I5 is secured on said plunger by nuts 7"?, Y?, the stud 75 occupying a slot 78 in a lever 79 pivoted et 8O to e web 181 extending; across the opening 12 in the 'trame 10, the lever 79 extending` below its pivot 8O and being' there provided with actuating means hereinafter described.

For operating the tube feeding rolls 52 and 53 to advance the tubing,` in si'iccessivc movements in synchronism with the action ot the plunger 69, a link 81 connects the upper end of the lever 79 with e pawloperating arm 82, which arm 82 is loosely pivoted on-the shaft 55 of ilfeed roll 53, and a pawl S3 is loosely pivotcd on the arm 82 to hang by gravity in engaggen'ient with a ratchet wheel 84C secured on the shaft 55, whereby the shaft 55 is ndaptcd to be .intermittently rotated clock-wise, a leaf spring; 85 being' so secured to the trame 10 as to engranc the notches in the ratchet S4- to prevent counter-cloclwise rota-tion of shalt 55.

For severing' the successive lengths or sleeves 'from the tubing' between 'its advancinn' nioven'ients, such lengths being;- shown :it 5lnv in l*1 ins. 1 and 10, a rotary knife structure 126 adapted to coactiin a sluaarinp` action with the lrnnie projection G1, is secured upon a main drive shalt l0() journaled in the lower part ol the traine 10.

'lhe'work-ejecting n'ieans includes a vertically reciprocal'iing;` slide SG which, referring especially to Figs. 2 and 10, is mounted on the 'traine 1() adjacent the guideway 1.13, to slide on the metallic strips Said slide SG incllulesI a middle, crosshead portion troni which upwardly extends a pair ol'; arms Fi?, 8? and ironl which downwirdly extends a pair o'l arms S8 and 8.9,.the nrins o't each pair beine` spaced slightly` farther apart than the width of a valve cap stem and each arin being' termed with slots 90, 90, occupied by retaining and guiding; screws 92, 92 or 93, 93 threaded into the strips The center portion oit the slide 86, as more clearly shown in Fin'. 1, vis bowedout from the guidewny 413 a suflicient distance to clear the stems of' caps ijirojecting through the space between the strips e5, the upper and lower oblique the' loo

portions 91,91, of the slide 86 being notched as at 86, to clear. the stems of the caps.

For limiting the upward movement of the slide 86, a pair of studs 94, 94 project from the strips 45. The lower end of the arm 88 is formed, as shown in Fig. 10, with a workengag'ing, cam surface 95 adapted to effect a transverse ejecting of the finished work from between the tube-supporting members 61 and 64 while the latter are separated, the cap-supporting member 49 at such times being withdrawn downwardly, For actuating the slide 86 a central stud 96 projects from the outer face thereof and is straddled by the slotted end of a lever 97 pivoted at 97L to the frame 10, and a link 98 connects said lever with a second lever 99, pivoted to the frame at 99u.

The driving means for the various workmanipulating` instrumentalities includes a worm gear 101 secure-d upon the main drive shaftl above mentioned and meshed with a worm 102 provided with a belt pulley 103, having driving vconnection with a suitable source of power, not shown.

For driving the rotary unit of the cap-:feeding hopper, a gear 104 is secured on the shaft 100 and meshed with a gear 105 secured on a shaft 106 journaled in the frame 10, said shaft having' a sprocket 107 secured thereto and connected by a sprocket chain 108 with a sprocket 109 secured on a shaft 11.0 jour* naled in the top of the frame andv in an end-thrust bearing 111 on the bracket 15. A bevel gear 112 is secured on the sprocket shaft 110 and meshes with a bevel gear 113 secured on the shaft 18 of the rotary hopper unit.

For operating the cap-advancing plunge-r 69 and the tube-feeding roll 53, a groove cam 114 is secured to the shaft 100 as shown in F 1, the groove of the cam 114 being' occupied by a roller 115 journaled onto the lou-'cr end of the lever 79.

For operating the cap-supporting mem- .ber 49, the tube-supporting member 64 and the tube-clamping member 68, respective involute cams 116, 117, and 118 are secured on the drive shaft 100, rollers 119, 120 andl 121 beingl respectively journaled on the inembers 49, 64 and 68 and being held in engagement with the surfaces of respective cams 116, 117 and 111.8 by pull springs 122, 123 and 124 having their ends secured to a rod extending' across the opening 11 in the frame 10 and to said members respectively.

The rotary knife structure 126 above mentioned, for cutting the rubber sleeves or lengths from the tubing, is secured, as shown in Fig'. 1, on the shaft 100, in the opening 11 in the frame 10 and between the cam 117 and the cam 118, a groove 127 being formed in the frame 10 extending upwardly from the opening 11 therein between the members 59 and; 61 for clearing the blade 1,28' of the rotary knife structure 126, the blade 128 b`eing formed to cooperate with theframe projection 61 to shear the successive lengths 51 fromtlie tubing 51. The cutting edge 129 of the blade 128 isso volutely curved as to shear the tubing with a saw effect. The blade 128 is removably secured, as shown, to a supporting sector 130 forming part of the rotary knife structure 1.26, so that the blade 128 may be readily withdrawn from the machine to be resharpened or to be replaced by a new blade.

l? or operating the ejecting slide 86, a stud 131 is secured on the hub `132 of the cam 116, and adapted at each rotation of the shaft .100, to engage the adjacent end of the lever 99, the latter being' formed with a studengaging face 133, to operate the slide 86 downwardly, a retractile springr 134 being secured to the lever 9T and to a pin 135 en the frame 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, mally to retain the slide 86 in a raised position.

In operation, valve caps 26 are supplied to the bowl-shaped space of the cap-feeding hopper, and a length of the tubing 51 is started between the feed rolls 52 and 53. The drive shaft 100 is continuously driven and rotates the hopper unit comprising the hopper-bottom member 19, webs 23, and slotted 'cylinder 32.

Such rotation of the tilted hopper unit causes a tumbling of the valve caps therein, with the result that some of the caps, in the lower part of the orbit, pass outward and downward between the webs 23 in such position as to be fully received bythe passages 31, in which they descend until the cap,- or the lowermost of a stack of caps, rests upon the ledge 36. In case of amming' of caps at the upper end of a passage 31, as shown in Fig. 1, the jam is relieved by tumbling' of the caps when that part of the tilted. hopper unit rises to the upper part of its orbit.

The unit thus rotating, with caps or stacks of caps in some or all of the passages 31, their stems projecting through the slots 34, the lowermost cap in eachL of said passages, is slid along upon the ledge 36 and passes into the groove 40, as will be best understood withk reference to Fig. 9, the Yalls of the slots 34 impelling' the caps by engagement with the laitters stems, when the 'aps in following the oblique portion of said ledge, have ceased to be engaged by the webextensions 28, and the other caps of each stack, separated from the lowermost cap by the pick-off point pass onto the more elevated part of the ledge 36.

The caps pass by gravity from the groove 40 into the `guideway 43, being carried over the mouth of the. groove 44 by their momentum, and stack themselves upon the cap-supporting frame-projection 48, and the oscillatory cap-supporting member 49. The

and thereby inserts the stem oit the cap intov the end of the tubing 51, the latter being clan'iped .in position'by the clamping means above described.

its the cap is thus advanced, the revolving knife 128 cuts the tubing 51 to the proper length, leaving a sleeve 51 upon the stein ot the cap.v rllhe tube-supporting' member (lt then withdraws downwardly, and While the tubing` 51 is still clamped by the member Gil, the stud 131 engages the lever 99 and suddenly actuales downwardly the ejector slide Elli, the work-ejecting arm 8S ot which ejects the assei'iibled cap and sleeve downwardly and laterally Ytrom the machine, as shown in Fig. 10.

While the plunger 69 is being retniicted, and a'lfter the ejection ot the cap assembly, the i'olll is given a short rotary'movement by its driving` means above described, advancing the end ot the tubing 5l to assembling position. its the retraction ot the plunger G9 is completed, the cap-stein supporting member 4M) rises to engage the stein ot the next valve cap in the guideivay 43, just as said cap drops into position, upon the 'Withdrawal ot the pliiinger. llhe tubesupporting or clampingmembers 6st. and tit-l then sivinginto position respectively to support and clamp the tubing 51 `for the next asseinbli operation. i i

lhe tulgiing 5l is preferably supplied from a reel, not shown, and aft'ter one reel is nearly emptied, an end ot another reel ot tubing may be cemented to the trailing end ot that which precedes it, Withoutinterrupting the operation ot the machine.

hfloditications may be resorted to without departing 'troni the scope ot the invention as claimed. i

ille claim:

l, Apparatus tor forming sleeves and applyi ng' them to articles, said apparatus coinprisiiig means tor 'feeding` a length of tubing to a severing and assembling position, means :tor there severing` successivesleeve lengths therefrom, and means for insertingl said articles into said sleeve lengths successively while the later are substantially in the position in which they are severed trom said long length ot tubing. i

2. i-rpparatus tor 'torming` sleeves and applyingl them to a 1ticles, said apparatus comin'ising means tor feeding a length ot tubing to a determinate severing position, means for there severing successive sleeve `lengths therefrom, means for conducting a succession of,

said articles to a determinate assembling position, and means tor effecting such relative movement as to apply the successive sleeve lengths o the successive articles.

3. apparatus tor lorming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus comprisingmeans tor supporting a tile of said articles with the leading'l article in a determinate position, means 'tor feeding a length oit tubing to a severing and assembling` position adjacent and in alignment With said leading article, means tor there severing successive sleeve lengths trom said tubing, and means tor so advancing successive articles troni the leading' end ot said file as to insent them in said sleeve lengths successively as the latter are severed.

et. Apparatus for forming sleeves-and applying them to valve-'cap stems, said apparatus con'iprising a guideway adapted to conduct a column ot said caps to an assembling position, said guideivay being adapted to permit the removal ot the lowerinost cap transversely troni said column, a support 'tor said column ot caps at the bottom oit said guideway, means tor feeding a length of tubing to a. severing` position adjacent the lovvermost cap, means toi' there severing successive lengths trein the end ot said tubing, and means for n'ioving successive caps transversely trom the bottom otsaid column and inserting their stems in the successive sleeve lengths While the latter are substantially in the position in which they are severed from said length of tubing.

5. Apparatus tor valve-cap stems, said apparatus comprising` means tor presenting` successive sleeves in an `nbling position, means for conducting a sion oit caps into a position in alignment with and adjacent the end of a sleeve so presented, means 'tor slidably supporting the cap in such position by engagement with its body portion and the outer end portion ot :its stein, and means for sliding the cap toward c vid sleeve, the spacing ot said sleevepreseiiting means andsaidl cap-supporting n'ieans and the form oit the latter being such as to y permit the caps stem to enter the sleeve While the cap is still supported by said supporting means.

(S. Apparatus for applying sleeves to articies, said apparatus lcomprising means toi' presenting successive sleeves in an assembling position, means for supporting1 a column ot articles so that the lower-most article thereof is in alignment with and adj acent the end ot a sleeve so presented, and reciprocable means for advancing successive articles transversely trom the bottom of said column into association with the successive sleeves, said reciprocable means being` adapted to support the remainderiot the articles in said column `While advancing the lowerapplying sleeves to most article, and to permit'the remainder of the articles to Vfall after-.said .reciprocable means is retracted.

7. Apparatusfor forming sleeves. and `applying them to articles, said apparatus comprising means foij.feediiig a lengthof tubing so that an endthereof is Vpresented. in an assemblingr position, means for feeding a succession oi; articles into a position. in alignment with and adjacent the tubev end thus presented, reciprocable means` for advancing said article-into the end of said tubing, means for cutting the tubing beyond the inserted end of-said article, and means connected to said reciprocable means for operating said toibo-feeding means to advance the ycut end of said tubing into vthe assembling position as said reciprocable means is retracted.

8. Apparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus conipiising means for feeding a length of tubing so that an end thereof is presented in an assemblingr position, said tube-feeding means including a pair of feed rolls anda pawl, pawl-operating arm and ratchet for intermittently driving one of said rolls, means for feeding a succession of articles into ja positionin alignment with and adjacent the tube endso presented, reciprocable means for advancing said article into the end of said tubing, means for cutting the tub-A ing beyondthe inserted end of said article, and a link connected to said reciprocable means and to said pawl operating arm.

9. Apparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus comprisingmeans for` intermittently present-ing an end of a length of tubing to an assembling and severing position, means for inserting an article into theyend of said tubingso presented, means for severing said tubing beyond the inserted end of said article, and means for periodically clamping said tubing` in the severing yand assembling position, While the latter is being severed.

10. Apparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus coinprising means for intermittently presenting an end of a lengthof tubing to an assembling and severing position, means for inserting an article into the end of said tubing so presented, a rotary knife for severing said tubing beyondthe inserted end of said article, and means for periodically clamping said tubing inthe severing and assembling position, While the latter is being severed, said means including kan oscillatable member and a cam secured for rot-ation with said knife for oscillating said member.

ll.. Apparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus comprising means` for intermittently feeding an end of a length of rtubing to an .assembling and severing position, means for inserting lan article into the end of said tubarticle into the end ofqsaidk tubino', means for severing said tubing beyond the inserted end of said article, and means for periodically pinchingl said tubing to hold it in position during the assembling and severing operations, said pinching means comprising an oscillatable member adapted for traversing said notch to pinch the tubing against said, apertured memben i2-3. Apparatus for inserting reduced end respective sleeve if portions of articles in members, said apparatus comprising means for slidably supporting an ali-ticle of irregular shape inl an assembling position, said means including a stationary support for engaging the larger portion of the article and a movable support for engaging its reduced end portion, means for advancing said article from said supports by engagement with the larger portion, and means for removing'` said movable support from engagement With said reducedpoi'tion as the` article is so advanced.

14. Apparatus for applying sleeves to valve-cap stems, saidr apparatus comprising means for presenting sleeves to an assembling position, meansfor positioning valvecaps in alignment with an end of a sleeve so presented, .said means inciuding a sta.- tionary support for engaging the body portion of a cap, said support being spaced a distance less than the length of a cap-stem from the sleeve, and a movable support between said stationary supportand the sleeve, said movable support being initially adapted to engage the end of the cap-stem, means for advancing said cap on saidsupports whereby the caps stem is inserted into the end of the sleeve, and means for removing said movable support from engagement With the cap-stem after the latters outer end has entered the sleeve but before the body; portion of the cap has been advanced into engagement withr said movable support.

l5. Apparatus for applying sleeves to valve-cap stems, said apparatus comprising means for presenting sleeves to an assembling position, means for positioning valvecaps in alignment with an end `of a sleeve so presented, said means including a stationaryl support for engaging the body portion Elfi oi a cap spaced a distance less than the length of a cap-stem from the sleeve and an oscillatable support between said stationary support and the sleeve, said oscillatable support being adapted initially to engage the end ot the cap-stem, means for advancing said cap on said supports whereby the caps stem is inserted into the end ot the sleeve, and means ior operating said oscillatable support to remove it vtrom engagement with. the cap-stem after the latters outer end has entered the sleeve but before the body portion of the cap has been advanced into engagement with said oscillatablc support, said operating means being` interconnected with said cap-zidvancing means ior synchronous operation.

16. Apparatus for applying sleeves to articles such as valve-caps, said apparatus comprising two supports each for holding the sleeve and the article, respectively. horizontally aligned indeterminate spaced relation, a plunger adapted to advance over the surface oit one oit said supports to slide the article thereon into association with. the sleeve i mounted on the other support, and actuating means for said plunger having such adjustable connection therewith as to provide for variation oit the stroke of the plunger. r

17.1ipparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a lengt-h of tubing so as to present an end thereof at an assembling and severing position, means tor feeding a plurality et articles in suc- .cession toa position adjacentto and in alignment with the end of the tubing so presented, means for advancing an article so positioned into the end of said tubing, said means comprising a plunger, a member adjustably secured thereto and a lever for engaging said member, means connected to said lever tor operating said tube-feeding means, and means for severing said tubing beyond the inserted end ot said article.

18. Apparatus for forming sleeves and applying them to articles, said apparatus comprising means for supporting an end oit a length oi tubing' in an article-receiving position, means for inserting an article into the end o'lv said tubing, means for cutting said tubing beyond the inserted end ont said article, and means tor ejecting the finished assembly from the apparatus.

19. Apparatus for applying sleeves to articles, said apparatus comprising means for supporting a sleeve in an article-receiving position, said means including a pair of .relatively movable sleeve-clamping members, means 'for inserting an article into said sleeve, means for separating said relatively movable sleeve-clamping members, and means 'for ejecting the assembled articles `.from between the separated members.

20. Apparatus :for applying rubber sleeves' to the stems or' tire-valve caps, said apparatus comprising clamping members relatively movable vertically and having cooperating, grooved, downwardlyslanting laces lor supporting a rubber sleeve, means for inserting the` stem of a valve-cap in a sleeve clan'iped thereby, means for separating said clamping members, and means adapted to engage the cap and sleeve assembly to eject the same obliquely downward from between the separated clamping members soas to clear the latter.

21. Apparatus as detined in claim 20 in which the ejecting means comprises a vertically reciprocable member termed with an oblique tace adapted to impel the work obliouely downward by impact therewith.

Apparatus tor assenibling articles, said apparatus comprising a guideway tor supporting a column of articles so that the lowcrmcst article is in an assembling position, means for supporting another article inposition to be assembled with said firstmentioned article, means i'or advancing the tiret-mentioned article from the bottom oit said guideway into engagement with the second-mentioned article to eii'ect the assembly, and an ejector adapted to engage the finished assembly `to' eject the latter 'from the apparatus in a direction transverse to the relative movement of the articles in the assembling operation.

23. ln combination with ymeans for successively manipulating small articles et determinate size and shape, such as valve caps, a feed hopper comprising a rotary, bowllilre structure formed to provide a central space adapted to receive the articles in bulk and with guide passages leading outward from said space and then longitudinally ot said structure, said passages being of such form as to permit the passage of said articles therethrough only when the latter are radially 'disposed with relation to the artis oit' the rotary structure, a stationary floor member adjacent the del` fery ents of said passages and formed with a 'licor surface adapted slidably to support said articles in said passages as said structure is rotated, said door member being formed wii'zli an outlet passage leading` from its iioor face, and means for receiving said articles from said outlet passage and effecting their movement to said manipulating means.

24. ln combination wita means for 'successively manipulating small articles ci delill t. i il,

liu

terminate size and shape, such as valve-caps,y

a 'feed hopper comprising a rotary, bowllike structure formed to provide a central space adapted to receive the articles in bull; and with guide passages leading from said space, said passages being of such form as to permit the passage of said articles therethrough only when the latter are determinately disposed, and said passages having ydownwardly opening` delivery te'iiiiinals lying substantially ina plane perpendicular to the axis ot said structure, a stationary f r einber telescop'edwith the end portion of `said struct-ure adjacent saidlterminals and toriiicd with a ledge providingl a floor surlace ada ated slidably to support said articles in said passages as said structure is rotated, said stationary member being,r torn'ied with an outletpassage leading from itsiioor iace and said ioor tac-e anda wall ot' said outlet passage deiinin` a piel; oit" point adapted to separate the lowermost article in each passage from those above it, and nieaiis on said structure overlying,v said stationary neniber in the Zone ot saidoutlet passage, channeled in continuation of said guide passages, and adapted to cont-inne the nient with said lowerinostmembers as they are so separated and iiiipel them through said outlet passage.

25. ln combination with means for successively manipulating small articles o'j determinate size and shape, such as valve caps1 a ieed hopper comprising a rotary, bowldil-:e structure journaled on an inclined anis and formed to provide a central space adapted to receive the articles in bifilk and with leinde passages, said passages being of such torni as to permit the passage of said articles theretl'irougrh only when the latter are determiiiately disposed, and said passages havii e; downwardly opening deliveryv terminals lyins,y substantially7 in a plane peril'iendieular to the axis of said structure,a stationary ineniber telescoped with the end portion of said structure adjacent said terminals and formed with a ledge providing a floor surtace adapted slidably to support said articles in said passages as said structure is rotated, said stationary member being formed with aii outlet passage leading trom its floor ilaee and said floor face and a wall of said outlet passage d'eiiningl a pick oifi3 point adapted to separate the lowerinost article in each passage from those above it, and means on said structure overlying' said stationary member .in the Zone ot said outlet passage, channeled in continuation of said guide pas sages, and adapted to continue the engage ment with said lowerinost membersV as they are so separated and iinpel them through said outlet passage.; p

2o. n combination with means for successively ii'ianipulating small articles such as `lvalve caps, an article-feedingv hopper eon'iprising a rotary, bowl-lile member adapted to receive the articles in bulk, the axis ot' said rotary member beingv inclined substantiall y troni the verticali said rotary ii'ien'iber hai/'ing' a peripheral seriesot passages radiating troni a central space therein, said pas saires extendingl downwardly at the outer 'iphery et said rotary member and termiiifi' in a circular series ot outlets, and a sta -iouary member providing a-iioor ttor the i'iiiddie portieri 'ot said rotary member, a sine wall 'tor the downwardly extending` portions ot said passages, and termed with a ledge constituting' a door adjacent said s; ot outlets, said stationary member being termed with a channel leadingl from said and adapted to conduct articles there ini.

2T. In combination witii means for sucessiifel ii'ianinulatino' valve cansV a teedin` 1 i. r3 l, 5 .1 t: .pepper comprising a rotary, bowl-line ineinber adapted to receive the valve caps in bull; and having a peripheral series ot radiating` passages termed therein, said passages leading' to a 1aerinheral series ot downwardlvi l i 1 eV tending' passao'es torined in tiie marginal portion of said n'ieiiiber, both series ot pasn f res beimY such as to receive valve ca is only when the latter are radially disposed with relation to the anis of said rotating member, means for preventing escape of said .jalve-caps 'troni said passages in a radial erection at the outer periphery or" said rotai-y member, and a stationary member providing' a floor adjacent the lower ends of said downwardly-extending passages and :torined with anV outlet passage through said door.

Qln combination with means 'tor placingr sleeves on valveecap stems, a gravity chute adapted to hold a column ot valvecaps in determinate relation, said chute heing; adapted to release successive caps troni the bottoni ot said column, means 'for dislodgingi successive caps troni tlie bot-toni ot said coluii'in and ass eiating tlieii'i with respective sleeves, and a feed hopper adapted to deliver caps inV orderly relation to said chute, said chute having` at a substantial distance above its lower end an Ainclined poi'- tio'n termed with an oreiiiow outlet 'through its floor, said inclined portion being adapted to cause caps passing by gravity therethrough to be carried by their ii'ioinentun'i over said outlet except when the chute :full oit caps to the height ot said outlet.

In witness whereof we have hereunto sety 

